Posted By RichC on September 17, 2006
Terrorism is the major worldwide issue for many elected to govern our country, unfortunately a poll recently release has only 11% of questioned US Citizens put ‘terrorism’ as the highest priority item this upcoming election. That’s difficult to believe until you realized that the poll separates Iraq from the terrorism question. If the two are combined, the number is about 44%. Many Americans, including former Speaker Newt Gingrich, support the President’s position that Iraq is part of the overall war on terror. On the contrary his adversaries see Iraq as a distraction from combating terrorism at home and abroad. Speaker Gingrich, academic and historian, has been quoted in many articles over the past several months in his positions that we may be close to World War III. Some discount this as a far out remark and as a way to simulate support for aggressive Republican policies in dealing with terrorism — perhaps they are a bit naive after seeing the response to a quote in a speech by the Pope this past week?
Besides the Islamic extremist that advocate terrorism there are moderate Muslims that are for the most point quiet to the purposeful killing of ‘infidels,’ Jews and westerners by radical Islamists. This group that is surprisingly quiet as to terror in the name of Islam has little problem loudly protesting (and firebombing) remarks by Pope Benedict XVI, which do not reflect is overall teaching or comments.
Where was this outrage when terrorist attack and kill thousands or Muslim speakers comment on other beliefs? The uprising across Muslim nations has been excessive as the comments by the Pope who included a quote from a 14th century Byzantine Christian emperor was used in speaking on religion and reason. (“Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.â€) I don’t follow Pope Benedict XVI closely, but what I have read is noticed is that he has a desire for peace in the world and is not advocating a movement against Islam. Actually, I’ve heard far stronger comments coming from leaders like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. As for the Pope’s comments, they were probably not politically correct or even wise, yet I do see his point about “religion and reason.” Some mainstream religions do allow ‘reason’ to be discussed and taught along side their religious teaching, whereas others squelch ‘reason’ if it conflicts with religious teaching; some more violently than others.
As for World War III, the stimuli and population masses are in place that could make a world war a possible. Some Muslims are being taught there is little room for for those that have different beliefs and they have little tolerance for it. It seems like small events, comments, cartoons or even freedom associated with democracy creates a much bigger flames in the Islamic world than it should. It many not take much to take sides and escalate a small event into a world war. (just remember what the kidnapping of a couple soldiers did a month ago)
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Posted By RichC on September 16, 2006
One more from the phone post on the dropping retail gasoline prices — $1.97 tonight as I ran by the local south western Ohio convenient store. Now if only diesel fuel would come down to something close … a dollar plus premium is a little difficult to swallow.
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Posted By RichC on September 16, 2006
Laptop computers came up in conversation today as my kids and I were sitting at the kitchen table. My daughter commented that her professor was joking about using technology in one of her classes and pulled out a 1990’s laptop that had some size to it. They started laughing since it was ‘large’ relative to what they know. I smiled and said I my first laptop was 28 pounds.
The next hour was spent showing off my vintage Compaq Portable with its impressive green screen, 640 kilobytes of RAM and 5-1/4 inch true floppy. To their laughter I booted up MS-DOS version 1.14 to which they began playing the built in games. I realized that I hadn’t boot this computer up in their lifetime. It was enjoyable to see their reactions, especially when I removed the bottom to display the tiny screen and keyboard. My daughters comment was “I thought maybe the side would open” — she thought the whole surface was a display! (photos and posting with Palm Treo 700p smartphone)
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Category: Cellphone, Computer, History, Memories, Misc, Technology, Tidbits |
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Tags: compaq, Computer, katelyn, laptop, notebook, portable, taylor, tech
Posted By RichC on September 15, 2006
This getting painted and dressed for our local Lakota East High School football game is starting to become a superstitious ritual. Four games into the season our local high school is now 2 – 2 thanks in part to team spirit — well I’m not sure about that. Nevertheless, the past couple Friday nights a few guys have donned paint and school colors in cheering their team on for a win; its working I think? Lakota East handily defeated Milford 34 – 0 tonight and last week neighboring Mason. I’m not sure we can attribute the win to ‘dressing up,’ but having school spirit certainly doesn’t hurt. Next weeks game is at Fairfield and looks to be a challenge as they their High School football seriously. (Here’s a good site for Lakota East scores and short comments check here)
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Posted By RichC on September 15, 2006
I commented back in July and updated in August, on a solar racing team from the University of Minnesota that was heading to Taiwan for a World Solar Rally. I been monitoring and receiving updates from them regularly as they unpack their equipment and Borealis III entry. (vehicle and team in Taiwan above)
The group seems excited to be traveling in Taiwan and have commented as their concerns, one being some rule interpretations which include drivers must wear a fire retardant suit which the UMN team didn’t have. (haven’t heard final outcome on that) The most recent comment came from a team member who has updated me regularly on their ‘van’ drive of the overall rally route. I’ll include Adem Rudin’s comments below:
Over the past two days, we’ve been driving along the three-day race route in one of our vans. All of us are in agreement that the countryside is beautiful. The first day’s route takes us down the southern coastline almost all day, while the second heads up into some mountainous territory to the north, and the third day descends back down to the northern coast and then back to Kaohsiung University. We had a a great time just taking in the sights and snapping pictures. The changes in terrain means that each day has it’s own special challenges. Day one is mostly uphill on tight, two-lane roads, day two is steep uphills and even steeper downhills on wide open four-lane freeways, and the third day is generally flat.
We can’t wait to get out on the road and see what we (and Borealis III) can do.
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Posted By RichC on September 14, 2006
This week on my trek through the state of Ohio I was driving my ‘thirsty’ (not ‘thrify’ — see previous post) Honda Pilot and started looking for the lowest cost gasoline. The excellent site GasBuddy does a pretty good job and has a great database posting results of dedicated ‘watchers’ in real time to the fuel prices in any given area.
I decided to use the OhioGasPrices.com website today to find the lowest cost fuel in an area that I was driving through (NE Ohio) and was able to filled up this afternoon at $2.02 per gallon. The site also has other interesting tools like the Temperature Map (above) that gives a national view of pricing.
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Posted By RichC on September 14, 2006
BIRDING NEWS — Ramana Athreya, member of India’s Mumbai’s Natural History Society, has detailed a new bird species he calls the Bugun Liocichla. It is a multicolored bird and is located in the remote Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. The bird has been named Bugun Liocichla after the Bugun tride which lives in this area and is said to resemble Emei Shan Liocichla, although has many differences in plumage and calls, especially song. The Bugun Liocichla is also about 10% larger in all measurements except for the beak, which is smaller, according to the Indian Birds Volume 2 Number 4 (full 13 page PDF with photos is available here).
Athreya has netted two of the species although released them after photographing and making detailed notes. The bird has a black cap, a bright yellow patch around the eyes and yellow, crimson, black and white patches on the wings according to Athreya’s notes. Ramana Athreya commented that he first spotted the bird in 1995, but it wasn’t until May this year that he was able to document his earlier spottings. Birdlife International described the find as “the most sensational ornithological discovery in India for more than half a century.”
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Posted By RichC on September 13, 2006
Car Buyer’ Notebook reported that there is a new charity auction on Ebay today. I found the story interesting not for the car, but for the questionable vanity plate. The hopeful promotion, which will benefit Girls Inc., is selling Warren Buffett’s 2001 Signature Series Lincoln Town Car and includes the famed investor’s – THRIFTY – vanity plate. Now … all Volkswagen TDI drivers know, this plate does not belong on a Lincoln, but on a popular fuel efficient diesel car built by Volkswagen. All VW TDI models, the Golf, Jetta, New Beetle and Passat, are extraordinarily “thrifty” when compared to the Lincoln Town Car. What other family vehicles are able to set the cruise control and maintain Autobahn speeds while returning 50mpg? (and do it running clean US grown and produced renewable biodiesel!)
Before you place a bid, here’s a little disclosure on a possible ‘reliablity’ issue with this particular Lincoln Town Car: A few years ago Mr. Buffett picked up fellow billionaire Bill Gates for dinner. After paying the $35 “thrifty” dollars for their two dinners, both men returned to Buffett’s car for the drive home. Unfortunately the 3 year old Lincoln wouldn’t start – it seemed the steering wheel lock prevented the key from turning. Considering the combined genius of the nation’s two riches men, neither of them could figure out how to get the key to turn. They ended up calling a cab. (WSJ)
😀
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Posted By RichC on September 13, 2006
In keeping with my desultory theme, I’ll offer a congratulations to my good friend Tim and his wife Julie on the birth of their 3rd child … their first son. Nathan was born on 9/12/2006 at 8:20AM at 6lbs 15oz and 19 3/4″ – long or tall – which is it? Nevertheless both mother and child are doing well while Tim sent me an email with the wrong last name correcting it in a later email with: “I apparently was still delirious when I wrote that email this morning. “. I’m just glad he doesn’t work in the hospital nursery!
🙂 Congratulations again Tim and Julie … I look forward to watching you pull your hair out as your raise your three wonderful children.
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Posted By RichC on September 12, 2006
Apple Computer Inc. had their semi-surprise news shindig today as Steve Jobs announced that they will be selling Disney new releases on their iTunes Store for $14.99 for a full-length download. This alone is probably good news, but then the company also introduced a ‘bigger’ iPod player for $349. (long awaited as timeline as technology goes) Jobs also indicated that they will sell older films for $9.99.
According Mr. Jobs, the new iPods will also have brighter screens and longer battery life than older models and storage of 30 gigabytes and 80 gigabytes. The largest models charged battery will last as much as 6.5 hours according to Apple.
The hot selling iPod Nano models will also get a boost for music and voice lovers with a model boasting up to 8 gigabytes and costing $249. The diminutive iPod Shuffle also gets a bit more flash memory; its at 1 gigabyte and sells for $79.
For those waiting for the iPod cellphone … you were probably disappointed, although I don’t think anyone really expected one this month.
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